{"id":24580,"date":"2023-12-21T13:18:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T18:18:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=24580"},"modified":"2023-12-21T13:18:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T18:18:51","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-week-16-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-3\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 16"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our NFL week is officially beginning and that means it\u2019s time to pass out rankings<\/a> through a system I make up on the fly every single time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Power Rankings are enamored with the 49ers right now, but I can\u2019t let them jump the Ravens just yet. All Baltimore does is keep winning, hold down the top spot in the AFC and look in ever way like the team that\u2019s going to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Also, Lamar Jackson might claim his second MVP along the way.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will absolutely admit that I was a Brock Purdy nonbeliever in the preseason, but we\u2019ve played months of real NFL football now and the dude is No. 1 in the league in passer rating, passing touchdowns, yards per attempt, yards per completion and has the Niners with the best record in the NFC. I mean, to deny what I\u2019m seeing with my own eyes would make me a Steven A. Smith type of troll and, frankly, I have no desire to be that guy. Yes, I hope, as a fan, that the 49ers don\u2019t win the Super Bowl. But that doesn\u2019t remake reality to fit my fan desires. Also, there\u2019s money to be made here and that\u2019s what\u2019s really important.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raheem Mostert has scored 20 touchdowns this season for the Dolphins, as has the Niners\u2019 running back Christian McCaffrey. Mostert, of course, was a San Fran running back before McCaffrey and that\u2019s why Mike McDaniel, the 49ers former offensive coordinator, brought him in to begin with. But here\u2019s the real shocking fact. While that is a ton of TDs for any individual player, it also ties the number of touchdowns the Pittsburgh Steelers have scored as a team all year and it\u2019s more than the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and New York Jets offenses have scored all season. Last week:<\/strong> No. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. DETROIT LIONS (10-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lions have had an odd month or two after coming out strong to open the year, but here\u2019s a fun fact to think about as they solidify their playoff positioning \u2014 Jared Goff is 4-0 and the Lions average 30.8 points per game, allow 17.8 points per game on defense and have a +713 yardage margin in all of their prime time contests this season. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chiefs were ailing and had lost four of their last six heading into last Sunday, but nothing can clear out the cobwebs and fix a team\u2019s mojo faster than putting a boot up the New England Patriots\u2019 rear facing area. Last week:<\/strong> No. 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After blowing out the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys were so entranced by the smell of their own farts they couldn\u2019t smell the Buffalo Bills coming. And got blown out because of it. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of the Eagles, of all the losses they\u2019ve suffered on this three-game streak, none is worse than the 20-17 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks last Monday. Seattle isn\u2019t good and likely won\u2019t make the playoffs. Philly has already clinched a playoff spot, but that NFC title defense isn\u2019t looking promising. The New York Giants game on Christmas Day isn\u2019t a laugher now for Philadelphia, it\u2019s a must in. Last week:<\/strong> No. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. CLEVELAND BROWNS (9-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Browns, who came into this season with maybe the most ridiculous quarterback situation on the planet, have stumbled into something wonderful. I\u2019ve always been a Joe Flacco guy. You\u2019ll never go on Google and find a bad word I\u2019ve written about the dude. I\u2019m surprised he went so quickly to NFL backup status, but it\u2019s happened to other guys in the past. He\u2019s hung around, still has a canon and has probably just needed the right situation, and a competent play caller, to get the most out of his talents, even here in the twilight of his career. That\u2019s obviously happening in Cleveland. Talk all the garbage about Flacco that you want, but here\u2019s a fact. There are only 10 quarterbacks in NFL history that have 10 or more playoff wins and 25 or more playoff TD passes. Tom Brady is on that list. Peyton Manning is on that list. And Joe Flacco is on that list and he beat both those guys in the playoffs to do it. Flacco is one of only three active QBs to reach that mark. The other two are Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. Last week:<\/strong> No. 9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Browning might not be working his way into a starting NFL job, but he\u2019s definitely going to be one of the higher paid backups next season and Cincinnati should think about keeping him if they can afford it. Of course, with Tee Higgins and other contracts up, they might not be able to. Last week:<\/strong> No. 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jags have lost three straight and Trevor Lawrence is banged up at the worst possible time. It won\u2019t get any easier as they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers Sunday, but if they can survive that, they have a cakewalk with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans to wrap the season before the playoffs. Last week:<\/strong> No. 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. BUFFALO BILLS (8-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only have the Bills resurrected their season by firing Ken Dorsey and replacing him with Joe Brady. Now Brady is on some, albeit too early, head coaching lists and Buffalo, though currently outside the playoff bracket, will likely get in there and wreak some real havoc for the first time since 2019. Last week:<\/strong> No. 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. HOUSTON TEXANS (8-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one, and I mean no one on the planet outside of DeMeco Ryans\u2019 household, would have believed that the Texans would not only be in playoff contention this late in December back in the preseason but tied for the AFC South lead with a chance to steal the division over the last three weeks of the season. Go ahead and give this man the Coach of the Year trophy right now. Last week:<\/strong> No. 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of backups that are about to get paid, Gardner Minshew II should never be allowed to leave Indianapolis for even a day not under contract. He\u2019s not only saved their season after rookie QB Anthony Richardson went down in the first month of the season, he\u2019s playing at a level that could see this team get into the playoffs and, depending on who they draw in the Wild Card Round, possibly win. No one should be overlooking the Colts now. Last week:<\/strong> No. 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are multiple reasons the Rams are in the 2023-24 playoff race, but one that can\u2019t be ignored is the emergence of running back Kyren Williams. Since 2017, only Todd Gurley in 2017 and 2018 has more yards after contact than Williams does this year for Los Angeles. Williams should hit 1,000 yards Thursday night, becoming the first back since Gurley in 2018 to achieve that. He\u2019s averaging 5.1 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns rushing and receiving in spite of only playing in nine games. Also, considering he just might now be getting fully healthy since injuring his hip and thumb earlier in the season, Matthew Stafford is first in NFL in touchdown passes since Week 12 and has a 112.6 passer rating, which is good for second in the league in that span.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are only two quarterbacks to post a perfect 158.3 passer rating at Lambeau Field \u2014 Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield. It\u2019s true and it\u2019s exactly why the Buccaneers are leading the NFC South and might help another NFC South team sneak into, and immediately lose in, the playoffs. Last week:<\/strong> No. 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to some bad losses from both the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, the Saints find themselves in Wild Card contention, something that wasn\u2019t supposed to happen. To stay there they\u2019ll need to beat a hot Rams team on the road Thursday night. Last week:<\/strong> No. 19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of teams that shouldn\u2019t be in playoff contention, the Seattle Seahawks. I predicted a few weeks ago when they lost to the Cowboys that they\u2019d not experience a winning record again in 2023 and so far that\u2019s held, in spite of stealing a win over the Eagles on Monday night. Now they have a shot to prove me wrong when they travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans Sunday. Last week:<\/strong> No. 26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. DENVER BRONCOS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sean Payton picked the wrong time to morph back into Kevin James last Sunday. That loss to the Lions was ugly enough to send me a compliment on Bumble. Last week:<\/strong> No. 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s one thing the Vikings have learned this season if nothing else \u2014 they have the right head coach in Kevin O\u2019Connell. But that might also be a problem for a team that should be desperate to pick near the top of the draft to add a top rookie quarterback in April.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Bay had a clear path to the playoffs and decided to veer off into the nearest ditch. This is why you just use Google and Apple Maps guys. Don\u2019t go third party. That\u2019s how you drive into a lake.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw a report that Antonio Pierce is realistically in the running to be the actual head coach of the Raiders next season after his team beat the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21 last week. Did everyone forget that, just four days before, they lost 3-0 to the Vikings? Last week:<\/strong> No. 28<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the Steelers\u2019 season is crumbling around them and, sure, Mike Tomlin is definitely at fault, but they\u2019re still in the midst of some history. TJ Watt currently leads the NFL with 16 sacks, which means he\u2019s led the league in sacks for three out of the last four seasons. That one season he didn\u2019t, he missed seven games with an injury. That Watt DNA is STONG. Last week:<\/strong> No. 20<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. CHICAGO BEARS (5-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus aren\u2019t leaving Chicago without a fight. And, even if they do, both guys should walk right into jobs next season. The Atlanta Falcons should be calling about Fields\u2019 availability for trade already. Last week:<\/strong> No. 21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24. NEW YORK GIANTS (5-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It looks like Tommy DeVito might turn into the Mike White that many of us thought Brock Purdy would turn out to be. And NFL football is the only sport where the sentence I just wrote makes any sense. Last week:<\/strong> No. 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. TENNESSEE TITANS (5-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, the Titans can at least feel pride that they have the best record of every team already officially eliminated from 2023 playoff contention. Bust those buttons, guys. Last week:<\/strong> No. 23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26. NEW YORK JETS (5-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that the Jets are officially eliminated from playoff contention, we can finally get off the Aaron Rodgers hype train, right? Right? Do I need to do some ayahuasca to get him out of my life in 2023? Maybe if I rub ivermectin on my eyeballs? Last week:<\/strong> No. 24<\/p>\n\n\n\n

27. ATLANTA FALCONS (6-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just like that, the Arthur Smith is on the hot seat talk finally begins. It\u2019s like I was the only one screaming that there was a raging fire this whole season. Smith has made the call that it\u2019ll be Taylor Heinicke at QB1 with Desmond Ridder as QB2 the rest of the way. At this point, saving the season would be the worst possible outcome for Atlanta. Clean house, hire a new coach and start all over. Better to lose out and draft as high as you can at this point. Last week:<\/strong> No. 25<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you are sitting down. Gird yourselves. I mean it. GIRD! Jim Harbaugh, a name that has been tied to a potential Los Angeles Chargers opening for weeks has now officially been reported as interested in the open Chargers job. I know. Shocking. It\u2019s almost as if the obvious thing that\u2019s been out there for a fortnight is actually going to happen. Especially since Harbaugh has been so thoroughly screwed by the Big Ten and the NCAA this year. If taking notes and scouting an opponent is wrong, what the hell is every other team doing? Anyway, he\u2019s right to be mad at the NCAA and the Chargers job is easily the best opening in the NFL. Harbaugh will have this franchise at 11 wins and in the playoffs his first year. Considering the Chargers are the Los Angeles stepchild, this is absolutely the move to make. Last week:<\/strong> No. 27<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29. CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-12)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No team has been worse than the Panthers this season or is in worse shape heading into next year. It\u2019s so bad that you can buy tickets to their home games for dirt cheap and people still don\u2019t show up to the games. Last Sunday, in their 9-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the rumor is that just 5,200 fans were in the stadium<\/a>, which would easily be the lowest attendance for an NFL game in the league\u2019s history outside of the COVID-19 and strike seasons. David Tepper should be forced out of the league. Last week:<\/strong> No. 32<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one who follows the NFL at any level believed for a second that Sam Howell was a better option at quarterback than Jacoby Brissett. Not that either one was ideal, but if you had to pick one, not even Sam\u2019s mom would pick him over Brissett on Madden. Last week:<\/strong> No. 31<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-11)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the draft was held today, the Patriots would pick at No. 2 overall and that\u2019s still far too close to Caleb Williams and certainly in Drake Maye territory. Let\u2019s string some wins together here, Bill. Burn this whole thing down as they run you out of town.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 29<\/p>\n\n\n\n

32. ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-11)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a short reprieve from the bottom of the rankings, the Cardinals return to the basement once again. The truth is, talent wise, Arizona is probably the best team to ever spend most of the year in the bottom three. Of course, a lot of that had to do with Kyler Murray being injured. He\u2019s back now and the team\u2019s playing better. This wouldn\u2019t have been a winning squad if he\u2019d been healthy all year, but they would have probably won 5-6 games. Maybe seven. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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